Middle Georgia State University opens new competition and event facilities at the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course
“We have the collegiate SIAC Conference coming, they’re coming up with their meet, the Georgia Independent Athletic Association, the Cherry Blossom 5K and a host of other colleges and schools will be using this facility,” said Dr. Christopher Blake, President of Middle Georgia State University. “So the timing of launching this could not be better.”
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – MGA Knights have something new to look forward to as Middle Georgia State University celebrates with a ribbon cutting opening new competition and event facilities at Georgia Premier Cross Country Course.
According to Middle Georgia State University, the new facilities are designed to help the University expand recreational and tourism opportunities in partnership with Macon-Bibb County and Visit Macon, the project includes two climate-controlled buildings joined by an open-air pavilion. The new pavilion offers a covered viewing area, public restrooms, team locker rooms, concessions, and storage space. A large, paved parking lot, designed with ample room for team buses, now makes it easier to welcome major gatherings of spectators and athletes. The course itself received a significant refresh, including a new starting line capable of accommodating up to 1,000 competitors.
“We have our own Middle Georgia State Women’s Cross Country team, so they’ll play, host, here. We’re adding women’s track as well in the future so that we’ll be able to use this as a training site, but ultimately we want this to be a continued public private partnership between the University, Macon-Bibb County as well as Middle Georgia in the state abroad,” said Michael Brown, Director of Athletics for Middle Georgia State University. “We want to bring in high school and collegiate championship events. We’re already hosting a number of those now, but just as the word continues to spread of what this course is and now that we have the support facilities around it, I think the possibilities to bring more revenue into our county and more tourism just continue to go up and up.”
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
Also, according to Middle Georgia State University, the facilities were funded by a $1.24 million federal grant through the Economic Development Administration and nearly $311,000 in SPLOST support from Macon-Bibb County. The investment is expected to generate nearly $1 million annually in economic activity.
“As of today, we have $14 million in economic impact with sports in Macon-Bibb County and not too long ago we did about $3-4 million a year,” said Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller. “We are only just half way through the year, $14 million makes a lot of impact on a lot of lives.”
“We are so proud of Athletics Department,” said Dr. Christopher Blake, President of Middle Georgia State University. “It has recently been admitted a provisional membership into the Peach Belt Conference of the NCAA Division Two.”
“We have the collegiate SIAC Conference coming, they’re coming up with their meet, the Georgia Independent Athletic Association, the Cherry Blossom 5K and a host of other colleges and schools will be using this facility,” said Dr. Blake. “So the timing of launching this could not be better.”
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
Dr. Blake says they plan to also construct a grand entrance into the area so everyone on the road knows what and where the area is.
Georgia Premier Cross Country Course is located at 3450 Fulton Mill Road in Macon.
